Education

University of Toronto, BA, 1988  University of Toronto, LLB, 1991, Dean's Key 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, Canada, 1993 Licensed to practice Canadian law as a Special Legal Consultant in the District of Columbia 

Melanie L. Aitken

Managing Principal, Bennett Jones (US) LLP
Co-Head of Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment Practice

T: 416.777.4855 / E: aitkenm@bennettjones.com

Washington

Melanie Aitken is the Managing Principal of Bennett Jones (US) LLP, which carries on the practice of Canadian law in Washington, DC, in association with Bennett Jones LLP. She is also co-head of the competition and foreign investment practice of Bennett Jones. She specializes in global antitrust and competition law and litigation, working closely with colleagues in our Toronto and other offices.

Melanie served as Canada’s Competition Commissioner, in charge of the Canadian Competition Bureau from 2009 to 2012, having previously served as the Senior Deputy Commissioner leading merger review from 2006 to 2009.

While serving as Commissioner, Melanie led many high-profile civil and criminal matters and worked extensively with leaders of international antitrust authorities around the world on enforcement and policy cases, holding leadership roles in key international organizations, such as the Steering Committee of the International Competition Network. Melanie is credited with revitalizing the Bureau as an active enforcement agency. Most notably, she led the introduction of major amendments to Canada’s competition laws, introducing a US-style second request merger review process in Canada, and a new per se criminal cartel offence. While establishing an unprecedented successful litigation record for the Bureau, Melanie initiated a landmark case that liberalized the Canadian real estate industry, brought cases forward in significant matters (including a challenge to Visa and MasterCard over card acceptance rules, and a challenge to a major airline merger to monopoly); during her tenure, the Bureau won the first court-ordered merger prohibition since the 1990s.

Melanie was a partner at Bennett Jones and Davies Ward Philips & Vineberg before joining the Bureau in 2005. She has acted as counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada and represented the merging parties in Canada's leading efficiencies case, Superior Propane. Melanie has an active antitrust advisory, trial and commercial practice, representing major Canadian and US companies in significant matters across a broad range of industries, including financial services, large retail, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, airlines, oil and gas, consumer products and organized sport.

Melanie's recent experience includes Counsel to: Amazon in connection with its acquisition of MGM [$8.45-billion]; Tervita Corporation in connection with the merger of Secure and Tervita [$2.3-billion]; Seagen in connection with its proposed acquisition by Pfizer Inc. [US$43-billion]; JBS Food Canada in its defense to class action alleging price-fixing; Tiffany & Co. in connection with the US$16-billion transaction with LVMH; Mylan N.V. in its US$12-billion combination with Pfizer Inc.’s Upjohn business; American Airlines in its defense to class action alleging capacity discipline; Bristol-Myers Squibb in its US$74-billion acquisition of Celgene; Allergan plc. in its US$63-billion sale to AbbVie; Fiserv, Inc. in its US$22-billion acquisition of First Data; Time Warner it its US$85-billion acquisition by AT&T; Alere, Inc. in its US$5.3-billion acquisition by Abbott; St. Jude Medical Inc. in its US$25-billion acquisition by Abbott; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in connection with its US$12.2-billion acquisition by Marriott International, Inc; and Air Transat transformative joint venture with Porter Airlines.

Melanie is a frequent speaker and commentator on competition issues, and has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall and Queen's Law Schools. She is active on the C.D. Howe Institute's Competition Policy Council, and sits on the Advisory Boards of the Global Antitrust Institute, Schulich School of Business (Toronto, Canada), and W@CompetitionAmericas, and has been appointed a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Melanie also serves as a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network, a network of the world's competition authorities fostering convergence to best practices in global antitrust enforcement.

Select Experience

• An insurance software company in its defence of a national class action alleging that it engaged in anticompetitive conduct in the insurance industry
• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., in connection with its C$1.19-billion acquisition of an indirect minority equity interest in the Labrador-Island Link from Emera Inc. 

• Air Transat A.T Inc. in its transformative joint venture with Porter Airlines.

• Amazon Inc. as Canadian competition counsel in its US$8.45-billion acquisition of MGM Studios
• Tervita Corporation in connection with competition matters and filings related to its merger with SECURE Energy Services Inc.
• Seagen Inc., as Canadian competition counsel, in its US$43-billion acquisition by Pfizer Inc.
• Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC and Kissner Group Holdings, as Canadian counsel, in their US$3.2-billion acquisition of K+S Aktiengesellschaft's North and South American salt business, including Morton Salt and Windsor Salt
• Staples Inc. in its acquisition by Sycamore Partners for approximately US$6.9 billion
• One of the world's largest companies by market capitalization in a Competition Bureau investigation into its third-party pricing policies
• A Canadian airline in a potential joint venture with another airline to enhance its cross-border network
• Quebecor Inc. and Videotron Ltd. as competition counsel in the sale of Freedom Mobile Inc. by Shaw Communications Inc. to Quebecor, in connection with the proposed acquisition of Shaw by Rogers Communications Inc.
• Apergy Corporation and its subsidiary in their US$4.4-billion merger with Ecolab Inc.'s upstream energy business, ChampionX Holding Inc.
• Lineage Logistics, an international refrigerated warehousing and storage company owned by Bay Grove Capital, on its acquisition of VersaCold Logistics Services, a Canadian refrigerated warehousing company with fully integrated logistics capabilities, from Torquest Partners, The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario and OPTrust
• Counsel to Mylan N.V., in its US$12-billion combination with Pfizer Inc.'s Upjohn business
• Tiffany & Co., as Canadian antitrust counsel in connection with the US$16-billion transaction with LVMH
• Counsel to Mylan Inc., in its US$5.3-billion acquisition of generic drug assets from Abbott Laboratories
• Bristol-Myers Squibb, as Canadian antitrust counsel, in its US$74-billion acquisition of Celgene Corp
• Canadian counsel to Allergan plc., regarding all competition law matters and filings in its acquisition by AbbVie Inc. for US$63-billion (The Deal Awards 2020 Healthcare, Pharma & Biotech Deal of the Year)
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., in its acquisition of Bombardier Inc.'s Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series aircraft program for approximately US$550-million
• Counsel to American Airlines in defense to class actions regarding allegations of capacity discipline; and Covid-related refunds complaints
• Counsel to JPMorgan in defence to class actions regarding allegations of foreign exchange manipulation, and precious metals
• Fiserv, Inc., in its acquisition of First Data in a transaction valued at approximately US$22-billion, to create a leading payments and financial technology provider
• Signify, as Canadian antitrust counsel in connection with its $1.4-billion acquisition of the lighting business of Eaton Corporation
• Tervita Corp., in its acquisition of all issued and outstanding common shares of Newalta Corp. and US$250-million senior secured notes offering
• Canadian counsel to Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited, in a CAD$84-billion (implied enterprise value) reorganization and combination of their respective businesses and the separation of their non-property and property businesses into two new Hong Kong-listed companies, CK Hutchison Holdings Limited and Cheung Kong Property Holdings Limited. The transaction also involved a transfer of approximately 6 percent of the shares of Husky Energy Inc.
• Enercare Inc., a rental water heater provider, in its successful defense of an abuse of dominance investigation undertaken by the Competition Bureau. The matter was discontinued by the Bureau in September 2019 with no remedies
• Inuvialuit Development Corporation, as owner of Canadian North airline, in the merger of Canadian North and First Air (owned by Makivik Corporation), to create an Inuit-owned unified northern Canadian airline
• Canadian counsel to Conagra Brands, Inc. in its US$10.9-billion acquisition of Pinnacle Foods Inc.
• Counsel to Bumble Bee Foods, in a Canadian class action regarding allegations of price-fixing in Tuna
• Canadian counsel to Alere Inc., in its US$5.3-billion acquisition by Abbott Laboratories
• Canadian counsel to St. Jude Medical, Inc., regarding all competition law matters and filings in connection with its acquisition by Abbott Laboratories for US$25-billion. 
• Canadian counsel to Starwood, in its US$12.2-billion acquisition by Marriott International, Inc.
• Advisory counsel to Anheuser-Busch InBev, in its US$103-billion acquisition of SABMiller
• Canadian counsel to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, in its proposed US$28-billion merger with Norfolk Southern Corp
• Counsel to Repsol S.A., in its US$8.3-billion acquisition of Talisman Energy Inc.
• Canadian competition counsel to Safeway Inc., in the CAD$5.8-billion sale of substantially all of its Canadian assets to Sobeys Inc.
• Counsel to Metalmark Capital, in its US$2.5-billion acquisition of Kissner Milling Company Limited and Kissner Group Inc. by an investor group lead by Metalmark Capital
• Canadian competition counsel to Norbord Inc., in its CAD$763-million acquisition of Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd.
• Counsel to Enercare Inc., in its acquisition of Direct Energy’s Ontario Home Service Business for CAD$550-million and its CAD$340-million acquisition of Service Experts
• Counsel to Darling International Inc., in its acquisition of all the assets of Rothsay, a division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for approximately CAD$645-million
• Canadian counsel to Energizer Holdings, Inc., in its US$185-million acquisition of the Stayfree® pad, CareFree® liner, and o.b.® tampon feminine hygiene brands from Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
• Canadian counsel to Cameron International Corp. in its US$14.8-billion acquisition by Schlumberger Ltd.

Recent Recognitions

• Global Competition Review
  
  Top Women in Antitrust
• Expert Guides
  
  Women in Business Law
  Competition and Antitrust
• Chambers Canada
  
  Expert ranked abroad, Competition/Antitrust (Canada)
  Foreign expert, Competition/Antitrust (USA)
  
• Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
  
  Ranked, Competition/Antitrust (Expertise based abroad in Canada)
  
  
• The Legal 500: Canada
  
  Leading Lawyer, International Expertise
  Recommended, Competition and Antitrust
  
• Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
  
  Most frequently recommended, Competition Law
  

   

• Best Lawyers in Canada
  
  Recognized for Competition / Antitrust Law
• Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Competition and Antitrust Lawyers/Economists
  
  Recognized as a leading lawyer in Competition and Antitrust
  
• Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
  
  Ranked, Competition
• Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation
  
  Recognized as one of Canada's leading lawyers in litigation
• Lexpert Special Edition - Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  
  Recognized as a leading Finance and M&A lawyer
• Lexpert Zenith Award
  
  Recognized as a leading woman lawyer in Canada
  
• Who's Who Legal: Competition
  
  Recognized globally as a leading Competition lawyer in Canada

Recent Insights, News & Events

• 156 Bennett Jones Lawyers Featured in 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
  Announcements / March 11, 2025
  The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized 156 Bennett Jones lawyers in the 2025 edition. The firm also received rankings across 32 practice areas.   
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2025 Guide
  Announcements / February 13, 2025
  Bennett Jones has been recognized in the Chambers Global Guide 2025, with 49 lawyers ranked across 19 practice areas. Clients in Canada and around the world trust us to navigate their most complex legal matters. Our inclusion in Chambers Global Guide 2025 highlights our commitment to an exceptional client experience, deep industry knowledge and long-standing client relationships.
• Twenty-One Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in 2025 Lexpert Leading 500 Cross Border Lawyers
  Announcements / January 14, 2025
  Twenty-one Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized as leading lawyers in the 2025  Lexpert 500 Cross Border Directory (formerly ALM 500). This recognition underscores Bennett Jones' dedication to helping clients with their most complex legal matters. The Lexpert 500 Cross Border Directory profiles the most frequently recommended lawyers across Canada in approximately 35 practice areas identified via an extensive, annual peer survey. Lexpert produces the Directory in collaboration with American Lawyer Media.
• Bennett Jones Recognized as Top-Tier Firm in Legal 500 Canada Rankings
  Announcements / November 14, 2024
  Bennett Jones has once again been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2025 Legal 500 Canada guide. Known for our deep knowledge and client-focused approach, we consistently deliver strategic solutions that help clients solve their most complex legal matters. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and our dedication to achieving the best results for our clients.
• Revamped Competition Act Radically Alters Canadian Competition Law
  Blog / August 06, 2024
  In our previous Bennett Jones insight, we discussed several amendments to the Competition Act introduced by the Government of Canada in 2023, with the most recent set coming into force on June 20, 2024. These amendments, which follow earlier changes from June 2022 and December 2023, significantly revamp the merger review provisions and expand deceptive marketing practices. The Finance Committee's rushed review and the Commissioner of Competition's submissions influenced these changes, resulting in new market share presumptions and higher requirements for remedial orders.
• Politicians Want More Competition but Supply Management Still a 'Sacred Cow'
  In The News / March 15, 2024
  Melanie Aitken is interviewed by CTV News on Canada's  supply management system for agribusiness products and the role of the government in price management. As the former competition commissioner, Melanie is highlighted as a vocal critic of the system, identifying the inhibiting nature of this approach: "If you want to take advantage of the opportunities of trading with your global partners...you need to recognize that you can't have these incredibly stultifying protectionist policies denying access to our markets."
• 167 Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024
  Announcements / March 06, 2024
  167 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized for their legal expertise in the 2024 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. 
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2024 Edition
  Announcements / February 15, 2024
  Bennett Jones has 49 lawyer rankings across 19 practice areas in Chambers Global 2024. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering 49 detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers. 
• SECURE Energy Services Inc.: $1.075 Billion Asset Sale of Waste Disposal Facilities
  Client Work / February 01, 2024
  Bennett Jones successfully advised SECURE Energy Services Inc., in its $1.075 billion asset sale of waste disposal facilities to R360 Canada Environmental Solutions Inc., an affiliate of Waste Connections of Canada Inc. The sale marks the end of a divestment process for certain assets formerly owned by Tervita Corporation ordered to be sold by the Competition Bureau.
• Twenty-Three Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in 2024 Lexpert ALM 500 Directory
  Announcements / January 22, 2024
  Twenty-three Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2024 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. The Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory profiles the most frequently recommended lawyers across Canada in approximately 35 practice areas identified via an extensive, annual peer survey. Lexpert produces the Directory in collaboration with American Lawyer Media.
• Bennett Jones Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review's GCR 100 2024
  Announcements / December 20, 2023
  Bennett Jones has once again been ranked as Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review’s 2024 edition of the GCR 100, a comprehensive listing of the world’s best competition practices. The rankings provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the law firms and economic consultancies doing the most important antitrust work around the world.
• Federal Government to Significantly Overhaul the Competition Act
  Blog / December 19, 2023
  Following several years of lively public discussion, two high-profile consultations and the introduction of several “interim amendments” to the Competition Act in 2022, the federal government has now tabled two new bills (Bill C-56 and Bill C-59), which together, would introduce the most significant reforms to Canadian competition policy in several decades.
• The Real Change That's Needed to Make Canada More Competitive
  In The News / October 30, 2023
  Melanie Aitken speaks with BNN Bloomberg about the Canadian Competition Bureau's recent in-depth study—Competition in Canada from 2000 to 2020: An Economy at a Crossroads—which tracks a decline in Canada’s competitive intensity over the last two decades. She says the findings of the report are not surprising and its recommendations won't reverse the trend.
• Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
  Announcements / August 24, 2023
  104 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 46 practice areas in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
• IWD 2023: Workplaces Where Women Thrive
  Updates / March 08, 2023
  To mark this year's International Women's Day, we are proud to present a candid leadership conversation on the challenges women face in the legal field. Our five office managing partners—Melanie Aitken, Radha Curpen, Dominique Hussey, Pat Maguire and Barbara Stratton—are joined by moderator and Bennett Jones partner, Michelle Yung as they share perspectives from their lived experiences. This discussion highlights the importance of acting purposely to create an workplace where women can thrive.
• Special Events: In Conversation—Workplaces Where Women Thrive
  Podcast / March 08, 2023
  To mark this year's International Women's Day, we are proud to present a candid leadership conversation on the challenges women face in the legal field. Our five office managing partners are joined by moderator and Bennett Jones partner, Michelle Yung, as they share perspectives from their lived experiences. This discussion highlights the importance of acting purposely to create a workplace where women can thrive.
• Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2023 Edition
  Announcements / March 06, 2023
  Bennett Jones has 50 lawyer rankings across 19 practice areas in Chambers Global 2023. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers.
• Bennett Jones Shines In Legal 500 Canada Rankings
  Announcements / November 09, 2022
  Bennett Jones has been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2023 Legal 500 Canada guide: Aviation, Cannabis, Dispute Resolution: Alberta, Environment and Oil and Gas.
• First Round of Competition Act Amendments Now in Force
  Blog / July 18, 2022
  On April 26, 2022, the government of Canada revealed significant proposed amendments to the Competition Act as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1. As expected, these amendments have now come into force with the BIA receiving Royal Assent on June 23, 2022. The changes constitute the first step in the federal government's plan for comprehensive reform to the Act, characterized by the government as an initiative to improve the effectiveness of the Act, and better protect Canadian consumers and the integrity of the marketplace.
• Canadian Competition Act Reform: First Round of Significant Amendments
  Blog / May 05, 2022
  On April 26, 2022, the Government of Canada announced proposed amendments to the Competition Act as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2022. These proposed amendments are likely the first step in the Federal Government's announced plan to conduct a comprehensive reform of the Competition Act to improve its effectiveness in promoting dynamic and fair markets, especially in light of the challenges of the modern economy.
• Lineage Logistics Acquires VersaCold Logistics Services
  Client Work / April 13, 2022
  Lineage Logistics, an international refrigerated warehousing and storage company owned by Bay Grove Capital, on its acquisition of VersaCold Logistics Services, a Canadian refrigerated warehousing company with fully integrated logistics capabilities, from Torquest Partners, The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario and OPTrust.
• Canada First: Sound Policy Must Prevail over Groupthink
  Blog / February 28, 2022
  The calls to reform Canada's antitrust framework are growing louder. On February 7, 2022, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Francois-Philippe Champagne, announced a comprehensive review of the Competition Act. Minister Champagne characterized several areas of concern he proposes to evaluate in his pending review, specifically: addressing wage-fixing agreements, drip pricing, and loopholes in the Act's framework; improving access to justice for those harmed by anticompetitive conduct; modernizing the law to adapt to today's digital economy; and amending the Act’s penalty regime to provide for an appropriate level of deterrence against harmful conduct. This language could undoubtedly support a wide range of amendments and, appropriately, there is no indication it should be construed as exhaustive.
• Twenty-Four Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2022 Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory
  Announcements / January 06, 2022
  Twenty-four Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2022 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
• CP Shareholders Overwhelmingly Support Proposed CP-KCS Merger Agreement
  Client Work / December 08, 2021
  Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has announced that its shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the issuance of CP common shares to Kansas City Southern (KCS) common stockholders in connection with the proposed CP-KCS combination.
• Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Sign Historic US$31-billion Merger
  Client Work / September 29, 2021
  Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern have entered into a historic U.S.$31 billion merger, which will create the first single-line rail network linking the United States, Mexico and Canada. CP's winning bid for KCS was a superior proposal to a competing offer by Canadian National Railway.
• Melanie Aitken a GCR Top Women In Antitrust 2021
  Announcements / September 28, 2021
  Melanie Aitken is recognized as one of the world's Top Women In Antitrust by Global Competition Review (GCR). 
• Bennett Jones' Best Lawyers in Canada 2022
  Announcements / August 26, 2021
  146 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 48 practice areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 edition, with 44 lawyers having earned recognition in multiple practice areas. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
• Melanie Aitken on Public Service as a Competitive Edge
  In The News / May 10, 2021
  Melanie Aitken is featured in Canadian Lawyer on how the opportunity of public service was both a career highlight and translated into a competitive edge in her legal career.
• 159 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
  Announcements / April 29, 2021
  159 Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the annual edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. 26 are in the highest category of Most Frequently Recommended.
• 36 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Finance and M&A
  Announcements / April 16, 2021
  Thirty-six Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers. 
• Bennett Jones Acting for CP Railway in US$29-billion Combination with Kansas City Southern
  Client Work / March 22, 2021
  Bennett Jones is acting as Canadian counsel for Canadian Pacific Railway in its combination with Kansas City Southern to create the first rail network connecting the United States., Mexico, and Canada. Under the merger agreement, CP has agreed to acquire KCS in a stock and cash transaction representing an enterprise value of approximately US$29 billion. The transformative transaction has the unanimous support of both boards of directors.
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2021
  Announcements / February 21, 2021
  Bennett Jones has 51 lawyer rankings in 18 practice areas in Chambers Global 2021. Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers.
• Bennett Jones Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review 100
  Announcements / December 17, 2020
  Bennett Jones has once again been ranked as Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review’s 2021 edition of the GCR 100, a comprehensive listing of the world’s top competition practices.
• Twenty-Five Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory
  Announcements / December 17, 2020
  Twenty-five Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2021 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
• 40 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Litigation
  Announcements / November 26, 2020
  Forty Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2020 Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers. This annual feature profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in business-related litigation and appears in the December issue of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.
• Bennett Jones Advises on $3.2-Billion Agreement to Acquire K+S Americas Salt Business, Including Morton Salt and Windsor Salt
  Client Work / October 04, 2020
  Bennett Jones served as Canadian counsel to Stone Canyon Industries Holdings LLC (SCIH) and Kissner Group Holdings in their agreement to acquire K+S Aktiengesellschaft's North and South American salt [...]
• Melanie Aitken on Competition in the Digital Economy
  In The News / June 19, 2020
  Melanie Aitken comments in a Financial Post story on how Canada’s federal government is studying how Australia and France are levelling the playing field between news producers and global online [...]
• Bennett Jones Celebrates International Women's Day 2020
  Announcements / March 06, 2020
  The women at Bennett Jones reflect on living fulfilling lives and having successful careers in our video honouring International Women's Day 2020. 
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2020
  Announcements / February 13, 2020
  Bennett Jones has 50 lawyer rankings in 17 practice areas around the world in Chambers Global 2020. 
• Melanie Aitken on BNN Bloomberg on Antitrust Concerns in U.S. Election
  Announcements / January 30, 2020
  Melanie Aitken appears live on BNN Bloomberg to discuss some of the big antitrust issues surfacing in the U.S. presidential election.
• Bennett Jones Named to GCR 100
  Announcements / January 20, 2020
  Bennett Jones has once again been ranked as Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review’s 2020 edition of the GCR 100. 
• Twenty-three Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada
  Announcements / December 13, 2019
  Twenty-three Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in The 2020 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. 
• Bennett Jones: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers
  Announcements / November 29, 2019
  Thirty-five Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert special edition of Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers. 
• Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500
  Announcements / November 18, 2019
  Bennett Jones has been recommended as a Top-Tier firm in 5 practice areas in The Legal 500 Canada 2020 guide.
• Melanie Aitken on the Canadian Competition Bureau and Big Tech
  In The News / July 24, 2019
  Melanie Aitken comments in the Toronto Star on the Canadian Competition Bureau saying it is closely monitoring big technology firms to ensure they do not engage in anti-competitive conduct, as regulators around the globe crack down on the world’s leading digital companies.
• Melanie Aitken on BNN Bloomberg on U.S. Calls to Break Up Big Tech
  In The News / July 22, 2019
  Melanie Aitken appeared live on BNN Bloomberg to discuss recent calls in the U.S. to break up big tech. 
• Melanie Aitken and James Comey on Regulating Big Tech
  Announcements / June 11, 2019
  Melanie Aitken teamed with former FBI Director James Comey at C.D. Howe Institute’s Regent Debate to debate whether or not governments should regulate big tech to protect the public interest. They faced off against David Plouffe and Robert Atkinson. David was Barack Obama’s campaign manager and served as a White House senior advisor. Robert is president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C. The sold-out event was held at The Carlu in Toronto. Hugh MacKinnon was on the 10-person jury. The Regent Debates are a marquee platform for serious discussion on policy issues that are essential to Canada's future.
• C.D. Howe Regent Debate on Big Tech with James Comey
  Speaking Engagements / June 11, 2019
  Melanie speaks at the C.D. Howe Institute's next Regent Debate on whether or not governments should regulate big tech to protect the public interest.
• Melanie Aitken on BNN Bloomberg on Regulation of Big Tech
  In The News / May 28, 2019
  Melanie Aitken appeared live on BNN Bloomberg to speak on big tech regulation in the market place. She was asked if laws need to change to keep up and said that regulation always has a tradeoff.
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2019
  Announcements / February 14, 2019
  Bennett Jones has 48 lawyer rankings in 15 practice areas around the world in Chambers Global 2019. 
• Bennett Jones Named to GCR 100
  Announcements / January 25, 2019
  Bennett Jones has been ranked as Highly Recommended in Global Competition Review’s 2019 edition of the GCR 100. This comprehensive listing of top competition practices provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the law firms and economic consultancies doing the most important antitrust work around the world.
• Bennett Jones—Lexpert’s Leading Canadian Litigation Lawyers
  Announcements / November 29, 2018
  27 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert special edition of Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers. The issue profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in business-related litigation and appears in December’s Report on Business Magazine in the Globe and Mail.
• Bennett Jones in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018
  Announcements / November 01, 2018
  64 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in 19 areas of Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018. The guide identifies the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law for their annual publication.
• Melanie Aitken on BNN on Bread Price-Fixing: More to Come?
  In The News / March 07, 2018
  Melanie Aitken appears live on BNN to provide an update on Canada’s bread price-fixing scandal—and why more details will likely continue to emerge as other participants look to strike a deal with the Competition Bureau. She also says it is possible makers of other consumer products could be engaging in similar price-fixing conspiracies.
• Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2018
  Announcements / February 15, 2018
  Bennett Jones has 49 lawyer rankings in 15 practice areas around the world in Chambers Global 2018. This includes:
• Report Shows Global Shift Towards Behavioural Remedies
  Articles / February 09, 2018
  Melanie Aitken is quoted on behavioural remedies in Janith Aranze's article "Report shows global shift towards behavioural remedies" from Global Competition Review.
• Melanie Aitken on CTV National News on Bread Price-Fixing
  In The News / January 31, 2018
  Melanie Aitken appears on CTV National News to comment on Canada’s bread price-fixing scandal. She says that while Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and George Weston Ltd. have gained immunity from prosecution because they agreed to plea, it’s different for the other five companies involved. Everybody else who is ultimately charged, and if convicted, faces both fines and in the case of individuals the potential for imprisonment.
• Melanie Aitken on BNN Loblaw Price Fixing Case
  In The News / December 20, 2017
  Melanie Aitken appears live on BNN to comment on the potential scenarios that might lie ahead for the Competition Bureau's investigation into the bread price-fixing case amongst Canada's grocers. Melanie says so far, Loblaw has been handling the case in a savvy manner.
• Interesting Times in Competition Policy
  Blog / November 24, 2017
  In the United States and internationally, some unfamiliar questions are being asked about the role of competition policy in the global economy. At the inaugural GCR Live Women in Antitrust conference [...]
• Melanie Aitken in Law Times on Working with Canada's Competition Bureau
  In The News / September 25, 2017
  Melanie Aitken comments in Law Times on how companies can best work with Canada’s Competition Bureau in a landscape of increasingly large multi-national deals. An important part of the approach is co-operating early with the Bureau. Melanie says if the context is that the American company has information and is wondering if it should share it with the Canadian bureau, her advice would be to do so.
• Melanie Aitken on BNN on Canada-U.S. Trade Talks
  In The News / June 15, 2017
  Melanie Aitken appeared live on BNN for a one-on-one interview on how Canada can best position itself in trade talks on revising the NAFTA. She says that aligned mutual self-interest between should drive talks, as both countries could benefit from updates to the agreement. She also discussed the importance of support from government and business leaders in Canada and the U.S., as well as support at the state level by members of Congress. Melanie is a board member of the Canada-America Business Council. 
• Public Mergers and Acquisitions in Canada
  Guides / May 10, 2017
  Canadian public merger and acquisition transactions in 2016 (in-bound and out-bound) comprised over C$400 billion in value with at least one-third of the transactions in Canada being fueled by foreign buyers. The second edition of the guide provides an overview of the current Canadian legal system for anyone contemplating a public merger and acquisition transaction in Canada. It describes, among other things, acquisition techniques, deal strategy and tactics, minority shareholder rights, directors' duties, regulatory approvals, cross-border considerations and tax and employment matters. The new edition of the guide is particularly timely in light of significant changes to Canada's take-over bid regime over 2016/2017.
• Four Bennett Jones Practices Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global 2017
  Announcements / March 16, 2017
  The 2017 Chambers Global Rankings are out and Bennett Jones is once again noted as a top-ranked law firm. Forty-nine lawyers in 25 practice areas are recognized in the publication. Of particular note are the four practices and nine lawyers recognized in Band 1.
• Melanie Aitken in Law Times on Competition Law and Cross-Border Deals
  In The News / September 22, 2016
  Melanie Aitken comments in Law Times on the competition law challenges in getting regulatory approval for cross-border mergers. This includes her insights on the efficiencies defence in the Competition Act. Section 96 is a provision that is unique to Canada.
• Global Competition Review: Annual Brussels Conference and Melanie Aitken
  In The News / July 04, 2016
  Global Competition reports on its upcoming flagship GCR Live 8th Annual Brussels Conference where Melanie Aitken will be a speaker on the first day. She will appear on a panel that will look at whether the current environment is one of harder deals and tougher regulators. The Conference will also look at the potential impact of Brexit on competition law and policy.
• Melanie Aitken on Bloomberg TV Canada
  In The News / January 27, 2016
  Melanie Aitken appeared live on Bloomberg TV Canada to provide her insights on competition and foreign investment in the Canadian economy.
• GCR Live 3rd Annual Event
  Speaking Engagements / September 18, 2015
  Melanie Aitken co-moderates the keynote address, "Current Challenges in U.S. Antitrust Enforcement," at the Global Competition Review event in New York.
• Is the Competition Bureau Targeting You? New IP Enforcement Guidelines
  Blog / June 12, 2015
  On June 9, 2015, the Canadian Competition Bureau released updated draft Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines (IPEGs) for public comment. The comment period is open until August 10, 2015. It is [...]
• Melanie Aitken in the Globe and Mail on Competition Bureau's Investigation of Google
  In The News / May 14, 2015
  In the Globe and Mail article by Simon Doyle, "Google's Rivals Look to Help Canadian Probe Into Search Giant," Melanie Aitken comments on the Competition Bureau's decision to seek experts on search engines and online marketing for their investigation into Google's advertising and search practices in Canada.
• The Compliance Conundrum in the Electronic Age: A Canadian Perspective
  Articles / April 15, 2015
  Melanie L. Aitken and Emrys Davis, The Compliance Conundrum in the Electronic Age: A Canadian Perspective (April 15, 2015) (published at the ABA 2015 Antitrust Spring Meeting).
• Bennett Jones Receives Top Honours in Four Practice Areas by Chambers Global Rankings
  Announcements / March 18, 2015
  The 2015 Chambers Global Rankings have been published and once again Bennett Jones LLP remains one of the top ranked law firms in the country, with 18 rankings out of 28 categories and 60 individually ranked lawyers.
• Melanie Aitken Interviewed by BNN on Oil and Gas Markets
  In The News / January 20, 2015
  On the Business News Network, Melanie Aitken discusses the challenges to foreign investment in oil and gas in Canada.
• Oil and Gas Summit 2015: Fundamentals, Financials, Prices, and Politics
  Speaking Engagements / January 19, 2015
  Melanie Aitken presents "Challenges to Foreign Investment in Oil and Gas Markets in Canada: How to Understand and Manage the New Uncertainties" at the Oil and Gas Summit 2015: Fundamentals, Financials, Prices, and Politics in Calgary, Alberta.
• Melanie Aitken in Canadian Lawyer on Club Coffee Complaint
  In The News / November 17, 2014
  In the Canadian Lawyer article by Jennifer Brown, "Bitter Battle Brewing Over Coffee Cup Format," Melanie Aitken comments on the complaint Club Coffee filed with the Competition Bureau of Canada about Keurig Green Mountain's K-cup format.
• Enforcement, Antitrust Policies Highlight ABA Antitrust Fall Forum
  Speaking Engagements / November 06, 2014
  Melanie Aitken speaks on "Criminal Antitrust Outlook" at the American Bar Association's Antitrust Fall Forum in Washington, D.C.
• Melanie Aitken Comments on the Canadian Competition Bureau Quoted by Global Competition Review
  In The News / September 18, 2014
  In the Global Competition Review article by Harry Phillips, "Aitken Questions Canada Advocacy Drive, Readiness For Challenge," Melanie Aitken's comments are quoted from the Canadian Bar Association 2014 Annual Competition Law Fall Conference Program.
• 2014 Annual Competition Law Fall Conference Program
  Speaking Engagements / September 17, 2014
  Adam Kalbfleisch is the 2014 Fall Conference Chair. Melanie Aitken participates in the panel, "Top 10 Changes That Should Be Made To Canadian Competition Law and Institutions" on September 18, 2014. Sheridan Scott moderates the panel, "Hot Issues In Intellectual Property" on September 19, 2014.
• Melanie Aitken in Bloomberg BNA Antitrust & Trade Regulation Report on Canada Competition Bureau Merger Reviews
  In The News / August 29, 2014
  In the Bloomberg BNA Antitrust & Trade Regulation Report article by Peter Menyasz, "Canadian Lawyers See Eastlink Case As Confirmation of Bureau's Approach," Melanie Aitken comments on the Canadian Competition Bureau's intervention in Eastlink's proposed acquisition of Bruce Telecom.
• Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference 2014
  Speaking Engagements / March 12, 2014
  Melanie Aitken speaks during the Antitrust session of the IBA's Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference in Conrad Punta del Este, Uruguay.
• Melanie Aitken in Lexpert on New Commissioner of Competition
  In The News / March 01, 2014
  In the Lexpert article, "Competitive Changes," Melanie Aitken comments on John Pecman's appointment as Commissioner of Competition for Canada's Competition Bureau.
• Ontario Bar Association's Institute 2014 - Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Ontario Chapter
  Speaking Engagements / February 07, 2014
  At, "In-House Compliance Programs - What Every Corporate Counsel Should Know," for the Ontario Bar Association's Institute 2014 at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre in Toronto, ON, Melanie Aitken presents "Navigating Competition Compliance Issues" during the session, "A Smorgasbord of Key Compliance Topics".
• Melanie Aitken in Bloomberg BNA Antitrust & Trade Regulation Report on Canada Competition Bureau(1)
  In The News / February 01, 2014
  In the Inside Counsel article by Chris DiMarco, "The Northern Border: Dispelling Fears About The Investment Canada Act," Melanie Aitken comments on The Investment Canada Act.
• Midwinter Meeting of the ABA's Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Business Law Section
  Speaking Engagements / January 31, 2014
  At the midwinter meeting of the ABA's Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Business Law Section, Melanie Aitken Chairs the panel, "New Challenges to International Merger Filings".
• Bennett Jones Works on Top Two Deals of the Year
  Announcements / January 16, 2014
  In their ranking of the top ten deals of 2013, Lexpert Magazine places Sobeys' acquisition of Safeway at the top. Bennett Jones represented Safeway before the competition Bureau, the necessary step to closing the deal.
• Melanie Aitken receives Zenith Award: Celebrating Women Leaders in the Legal Profession
  Announcements / September 25, 2013
  TORONTO – At the 2013 Zenith Awards in Toronto, Melanie Aitken was recognized with a group of her peers for her leadership in the legal profession.
• The Changing Regulation of Canadian Oligopolies: Complementary Enforcement Roles for Section 90.1 and Joint Dominance
  Articles / April 09, 2013
  Melanie L. Aitken and Emrys Davis, The Changing Regulation of Canadian Oligopolies: Complementary Enforcement Roles for Section 90.1 and Joint Dominance, (April 9, 2013) (published at the ABA 2013 Antitrust Spring Meeting).
• Bennett Jones and Melanie Aitken Mentioned in The American Lawyer
  In The News / January 16, 2013
  In the American Lawyer article, "Bennett Jones Stakes Claim as First Large Canadian Firm to Open in DC," Brian Baxter reports on the opening of a new Bennett Jones office in Washington and the rehiring of former Commissioner of Competition, Melanie Aitken, as the office's managing principal and co-chair of the firm's competition, antitrust and foreign investment practice. 
• Melanie Aitken's Return to Bennett Jones in the Global Competition Review
  In The News / January 16, 2013
  In the Global Competition Review article, "Aitken Opens DC Office for Bennett Jones," Ron Knox reports that Melanie Aitken has rejoined Bennett Jones and will manage the firm's new office in Washington, D.C. 
• Hugh MacKinnon and Melanie Aitken in the Deal Pipeline
  In The News / January 15, 2013
  In the Deal Pipeline article by William McConnell, "Canada's Former Competition Chief Opens Washington Office," Bennett Jones Chairman and CEO Hugh MacKinnon and Melanie Aitken are quoted on the former Competition Commissioner's return to Bennett Jones. 
• Hugh MacKinnon and Melanie Aitken in the Financial Post
  In The News / January 15, 2013
  In the article, "Melanie Aitken to Run New Washington Office of Bennett Jones," the Financial Post quotes Chairman and CEO Hugh MacKinnon and Melanie Aitken on the former Competition Bureau Chief's return to Bennett Jones. 
• Melanie Aitken Discusses Rejoining Bennett Jones on BNN
  In The News / January 15, 2013
  On the BNN show, Market Sense, Melanie Aitken talks to the hosts about her former position as the Commissioner of Competition and on rejoining Bennett Jones to head a new office in Washington, D.C. 
• Melanie Aitken in Canadian Lawyer Magazine on Return to Bennett Jones
  In The News / January 15, 2013
  In the Canadian Lawyer article by Jennifer Brown, "Aitken Goes to Washington", Melanie Aitken comments on leaving the Competition Bureau and rejoining Bennett Jones to head the new Washington, D.C. office. 
• Melanie Aitken's Return to Bennett Jones in Bloomberg Businessweek
  In The News / January 15, 2013
  In the Bloomberg Businessweek article, "Former Canada Competition Watchdog Aitken Joins Law Firm," Theophilos Argitis reports on Melanie Aitken's return to Bennett Jones after stepping down as Competition Bureau Commissioner. 
• Bennett Jones Welcomes Former Commissioner of Competition and Opens Washington, DC, Office
  Announcements / January 14, 2013
  Bennett Jones is pleased to announce that Melanie Aitken, who most recently served as Canada's Competition Commissioner, has rejoined the firm. Ms. Aitken was a partner at Bennett Jones when she went to the Competition Bureau in 2005. Melanie will manage the Washington office and serve as co-chair of the Bennett Jones Antitrust and Competition practice, advising Canadian and foreign clients on issues arising for those carrying on business or investing in Canada.  
• Melanie Aitken in the Globe and Mail
  In The News / January 14, 2013
  In the Globe and Mail article, "Former Competition Bureau Head Melanie Aitken Joins Bennett Jones," Steve Ladurantaye discusses Melanie Aitken's new position with Bennett Jones in Washington, DC, as well as her accomplishments as Commissioner of Canada's Competition Bureau.